A torch light procession up the High Street during the Guildford Lions fireworks event in 2012

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One of Guildford’s most popular community events has been thrown into doubt as Surrey Police can no longer provide specific cover.

The Guildford Lions’ fireworks extravaganza in Stoke Park has been a regular feature in the town’s calendar for years, and the club is now desperately trying to find sponsorship to cover the costs of hiring a private firm to take on the security duties.

The charity, which relies heavily on sponsorship to organise the event and does not charge an entry fee, has been quoted around £5,000 from one firm.

With the evening costing in excess of £20,000, if the Lions covered the additional cost it would not only risk the financial viability of the club, but could wipe out profits which go to worthy local charities.

Eric James from the club said the situation has put this year’s event into serious doubt, and could result in a change of format in future firework displays.

He said: “If we are unable to secure this additional funding I’m afraid we will have to postpone the event.

“We have got to look at the broader viability of the club.

“The police have provided absolutely excellent support for us, but this year said they are unable to provide either marshalling for the roads or overall crowd control.

“Generally, we have had a senior member of the police in crowd control so if any event were to happen, they could immediately take control.

“As a result, for the event to continue, we have got to bring in a proper licensed and accredited firm to take over those duties and the cost of that is around £5,000.

“The problem for us as a club is that the cost of the event is in excess of £20,000.

“We get some sponsorship from people like MeMset and Ewbank’s auctioneers, but it does not go anywhere near close to cover the £20,000.”

'We all want to try and save it'

Mr James said the impact of the extra cost would be to ‘wipe out any projected profit’.

“The concern of our club as always is we are a charity and we don’t carry large financial reserves,” he said.

“It seriously puts into doubt the future viability of the club. The potential financial risk for the club is huge.”

Whilst the status of this year’s event is uncertain, Mr James said inevitably future fireworks displays organised by the club would have to change, with a consideration on making it more commercially viable.

“Our only hope is to find someone prepared to step in and help us pick up this shortfall,” he said.

“It is a major community event and one of the biggest events on the Guildford calendar and obviously we all want to try and save it.

“We hope local businesses will see the social benefit.”

A spokesman for Guildford Borough Council confirmed it has offered a £2,000 payment to the club, on the provision it is matched by another third party.

A spokesman for Surrey Police said that while the force would have a visible presence at the fireworks event, it would not be staffing road closures or carrying out stewarding duties.

Guildford neighbourhood inspector Graham Barnett said: “I know in the past we have tasked officers with specific roles at the Guildford Lions firework event but we now have to face the reality of managing and limiting expectations of event organisers in relation to resourcing local community events.”

The charity needs to find additional support by the middle of September in order to save this year’s event.